The embryonic stem cells discovery and the immense therapeutic potential glven
to them has created big hopes in the world of today. The appearance of new revolutionary
therapies to treat sorne of the most serious known diseases are now conceivable. However,
the treatment of life to its earliest stage is questionned. The legal status recognized to the
foetus and the embryo has, in fact, a direct effect to the research area and industry as weil
as to its therapeutic use. Therefore, we have examined and studied the CUITent canadian
law with respect to the legal status of the foetus and embryo. Following this study, we have
noticed the uncertainty that prevails in Canada concerning the said legal status. Afierwards,
we have examined ail the different canadian norms and regulations already established
regarding the use of embryonic stem cells for therapeutic ends. We also did the
comparaison between those norms and regulations so as to see their differences and
similarities. It appears from our analysis that ail the canadian litterature generally treat the
subject in the same way and that there have been few changes from 1993 up until now with
respect to the forbidden researchs activities in Canada. We also have analysed the foreign
law standards and regulations in United States and Great Britain concerning those
forbidden researchs activities. We did the exercise of comparing the state of the law in
these three countries with different parameters. It emerges from that that Great Britain is
the most liberal country, United States being the most conservative and Canada being in
between them.